"I was gaming in Kentucky on THE LONGEST DAY when my eyes beheld an eerie sight, when this FIRE IN EAST began to rise and suddenly, to my surprise we played EUROPA .......

Okay, I'll spare you my complete monstergame pun on the popular 60's song, "The Monster Mash." But this is a hint of things to come. Other than being friends, our trusty editor and myself have one thing in common, we were both once members of the old National Monstergaming Society. Yes Virginia, people actually play these big beasties.

Ken and I were brainstorming once for ideas for our beloved STRATEGIST when the idea for this column hit me like Thor's Hammer. For 1995, every other month the -S- will feature a short piece on a monstergame from my collection. Articles will focus on strategy and variants.

I've enough material to keep the column going for over two years, and if Ken will pitch in every ,so often (hint, hint) it can run even longer. So tell your friends and neighbors who may enjoy the big games, join the SGS now! The column will cover everything you always wanted to know about the big games but were afraid to ask.

I thought about calling the column, "Sariego on Wargames," but that sounded too conceited. "The Monster Mash" will do. I don't want to etch this in stone, but look for the following articles in 1995.

January- WELLINGTON'S VICTORY (SPI/TSR)
March- WORLD IN FLAMES (ADG)
May- SIEGE OF JERUSALEM (AH)
July- CAMPAIGN FOR NORTH AFRICA (SPI)
September- PACIFIC WAR (VG)
November- TERRIBLE SWIFT SWORD (SPI/TSR)

NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND, PART TWO

On a similar note, let me encourage others to send articles to the editor. At times the past two years I've thought the STRATEGIST had a "By William Sariego," subtitle. Ken needs your input to make the Strategist into something special. we have a lot of new members so give them a quality product (and they can also contribute!) and not a mouthpiece for one or two authors. I would like to think that my work has helped the SGS grow. If you agree, vote in next months' elections.

The next year I'm going to concentrate on the Monster Mash and THE DIRECTORATE NEWSLETTER, so other contributions will be rare. I'll submit one more piece in 1994 (for December) and I'll let the readership decide. Would you like to see; A) An ADVANCED SQUAD LEADER Scenario, B) Zeppelin rules for RICHTHOFEN'S WAR, C) a review of COA's KOLIN, or D) optional/advanced rules for SUBMARINE? Let your humble servant know your pleasure.

Of course I can't put out the DNL unless I'm elected Vice-President, so consider this a shameless campaign plug. A word to any others who wish to run, being VeeP is more work than being President, but I welcome an election if other candidates step forward. my campaign slogan is simple, "Put the B.S. back in the V.P!